VW is finally bringing the high-performance Golf R to the U.S. early next year. VW has just announced the pricing and official specs for the 2012 Golf R, which starts at $33,990.
The Golf R is powered by an updated version of the EA113 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, rather than the EA888 engine used in the current GTI. It packs 256 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque compared to only 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft. of torque in the GTI. Even with 256 horsepower under the hood the Golf R is expected to get 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual and VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
The Golf R is available as a two or four-door. It comes standard with Bi-Xenon headlights, leather seats, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker audio system. The Sunroof and Navigation package starts at 35,490 for the two-door model and includes a sunroof, navigation system, push button start and 300-watt audio system. The four-door with the Sunroof and Navigation package starts at $36,090.